PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Birk Smygare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Birk Smygare has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Smygare
vs
Harper

181 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Birk Smygare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Harper!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smygare takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Harper finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smygare is looking to clinch.
Smygare is looking to clinch.
Harper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harper tries for a takedown but Smygare sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smygare doesn't manage to clinch there - Harper circles away.
Smygare tries to clinch up.
Smygare looks to land a left hand but Harper moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smygare misses with an uppercut. Harper saw that one coming.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Harper.
Smygare circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smygare cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smygare drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Harper lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smygare!
Harper avoids the attempt from Smygare to control.
Smygare is looking to get to half guard.
Harper looking to control but Smygare is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Harper lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smygare hang on?
Harper looking to land elbow strikes but Smygare uses the position to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from Harper.
Harper is thwarting Smygare's attempts to control the position.
Harper is tying to control. Smygare wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smygare is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper slows the pace down in half guard.
Harper wants to advance to full mount but Smygare doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Smygare keeping moving, preventing Harper from controlling successfully.
Harper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smygare looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harper is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Harper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Harper changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smygare looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Harper happy to just control the position for now.
Smygare taking a bit of punishment here - Harper scoring with strikes.
Harper working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smygare sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Harper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smygare keeps working.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harper lands a nice short elbow.
Harper is looking to advance position but Smygare won't allow it.
Smygare trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Harper dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Smygare fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smygare will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smygare misses with a wild combination.

Harper drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Harper wants to control from the top but Smygare keeps moving.
Harper lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smygare is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Harper is controlling him.
Harper wants to control from the top but Smygare keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smygare preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Harper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harper stays in close to Smygare's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Harper gets to his feet - Smygare follows without any prompting.
Harper slips a jab and a cross from Smygare.
Harper shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smygare moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smygare gets underhooks to prevent Harper's takedown attempt.

Smygare has picked Harper up - he's going for a ride! Smygare dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Harper trying to control from the bottom.
Harper is positioning himself well to prevent Smygare advancing to mount.
Smygare content to control rather than advance.
Harper is trying to get back to full guard.
Harper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper looking to control but Smygare passes into half guard.
Smygare seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harper tries to get to full guard but Smygare has control of the leg.
Harper is refusing to be controlled, as Smygare sits in half guard.
Harper wants to get back to full guard but Smygare has mounted him!
Smygare scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smygare prevents Harper from getting the reversal.
Harper tries to lock up and control but Smygare gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harper keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Harper bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Smygare can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Harper controls the pace.
Harper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smygare keeping full guard, as Harper tries to pass.
Harper connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Harper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smygare throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Harper fails with an attempt to clinch.

Harper drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Harper trying to control the position from guard on top but Smygare is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harper sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smygare is keeping the position for now.
Harper wants to control from the top but Smygare keeps moving.
Harper passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smygare keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Harper connects with a nice short shot to Smygare's temple.
Smygare wants to get back to full guard.
Smygare is working hard here to advance position.
Smygare avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Harper.
Smygare is refusing to be controlled, as Harper sits in half guard.
Danny Harper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smygare has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harper is working away from the top position though.
Harper is keen to just control but Smygare is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Harper has his takedown stuffed

and Smygare counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harper throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Smygare tries to pass to full mount but Harper defends it.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Smygare seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Smygare blocks the strikes from Harper.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smygare performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smygare trying to control the action but Harper is working from the bottom.
Harper is trying to maintain the position but Smygare is very close to passing his half guard.
Harper might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smygare kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Harper is pressing down on Smygare's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Harper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smygare can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harper wants to control but Smygare passes easily into half guard.
Harper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smygare's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smygare's back!
Smygare is keeping busy.
Harper keeps control of the position easily here as Smygare tries to buck him off.
Birk Smygare has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Danny Harper.
I've got Harper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Harper!